Citizen looks at labels for minutes, buys them with grains

Cem YILDIRIM/ANKARA

CHP Manisa MP Bekir Başevirgen stated that according to the March 2023 data from the United Metal-İş Union Research Center (BİSAM), the cost of a healthy and balanced diet for a family of four exceeds 325 lira per day, and that hunger the limit is 9 thousand 752 TL and the poverty line is 33 thousand 754 TL “As a result of the economic policies implemented by the government, the economic crisis deepens day by day and people are impoverished. The fall in wages and the great fall in purchasing power are felt more when buying food. Citizens look at the labels for minutes in the market and leave empty-handed. Products purchased by weight are now purchased by grain. Citizens who go to the market pay money from the world for bags that are not even half full, ”he said.

THE COST OF FOOD IS MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE

Başevirgen stated that the daily cost increased to 325 lira for a family of four to have a healthy and balanced diet, saying, “The budget that families need to allocate for nutrition alone is 9,750 lira per month. The minimum salary is 8,500 and the lowest pension is 7,500 TL. Considering that approximately 65 percent of the country lives on the minimum wage, it is possible to say that the income is not even enough to feed themselves, and that families only seek to feed themselves.

640 PERCENT INCREASE IN MILK

“The price of milk in the markets has increased by 640 percent in 5 years. The increase in yogurt was 617 percent and 910 percent in feta cheese. Feta cheese went up to 150 lira and yogurt to 50 lira. The amount that families must spend daily on milk and milk products is 114 lira. Today, what pensioner or minimum wage can allocate only 114 liras of their daily purchases to these products?

BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONSUMER ARE VICTIMS

In the period January-June 2018, the recommendation of the National Dairy Council was 1.53 lira per liter of raw milk, while the market price of milk was 2.50 lira, and the difference between the prices of producer and market was 63% proportionally. As of today, the price per liter of raw milk is 8.50 TL, while the market price of milk is 18.50 TL. The difference between producer and market prices increased to 117% proportionally. What these figures tell us is that manufacturing and marketing expenses have increased 54% more than the cost of milk, which is the main raw material, since 2018. In other words, both producers and consumers are victims of the high costs of energy, transport and marketing.

THE MEAT IS A DREAM, THE PRICE OF THE CHICKEN IS BASED ON 100 LIRA

The weight of minced meat increased to 300 lire. It’s already a dream. While citizens have turned to chicken meat due to high meat prices, it is not addressed today. Citizens who see the latest prices of chicken products sold at 10 TL per kilo in recent years are almost surprised. The weight of the chicken was 100 lire.

THE COST OF MENEME INCREASES TO 70 LIRA

Başevirgen said that according to BİSAM data, families should spend 61.26 lira per day on the vegetable and fruit group, saying, “Citizens who were unable to raise money for the meat and milk group were surprised at what they they would eat in the vegetable group. Tomatoes sell for 25 lire, peppers for 35, onions for 25, potatoes for 18, zucchini for 20, carrots for 23, spinach for 13 and aubergines for 28 lire in the markets. In the first three months of this year, there was a 101 percent increase in onions. In some places, he found 30 lire. Even at the cheapest prices, the saying ‘If we can’t find anything, we eat menemen’ has gone down in history. Today, the cost of meneme, which a family will eat at one meal, has risen to at least 70 liras.”

4 THE MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT ENOUGH

Başevirgen said: “Contrary to the global trend, food prices in Turkey continue to rise. Citizens do not have access to any food product, from meat to milk, from legumes to vegetables. The poverty line, which covers all the monthly expenses of a family such as rent, bills, transportation, education, health, clothing, rose to 33,754 liras. In other words, 4 minimum wages are no longer enough for poverty, ”he said.